PayCity has announced that it will discontinue its online licence disc renewal service on 30 June 2024.
In a notice sent to customers, the company noted that all renewals paid for before 30 June will be processed, and these users can still track their renewal progress.
“PayCity is discontinuing our License Disc Renewal service on 30 June 2024,” it said.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your continued support.”
PayCity added that any credits linked to customer profiles will remain valid and can be used for other services on the platform.
Alternatively, customers can contact the PayCity helpdesk at [email protected] to request a credit refund.
While the reason for the shutdown is unclear, lower pricing from online licence disc competitors could be to blame.
MyBroadband asked PayCity about its decision to shutter the service, but it did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
A recent MyBroadband comparison of licence disc renewal services revealed that at a total cost of R166.75, it is the fourth-most affordable service of the type in South Africa.
FNB is the cheapest at R69. However, this is a promotional price, with the standard price being R99.
The promotional pricing remains in effect until the end of June 2024, and FNB previously told MyBroadband that it is considering extending the offer.
South Africa’s National Traffic Information System’s (Natis) online service costs R99, while the South African Post Office’s online renewals are third-most affordable at R147.
PayCity also only offered licence disc renewals in Gauteng, the City of Cape Town (metro only), the Free State, the Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and the North West.
Its competitors offer their services nationwide.
The comparison of licence disc renewal services is summarised in the table below.
| Licence disc renewal service price comparison | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | Availability | Service/admin fee | Delivery fee | Total |
| FNB | Nationwide | Included | Included | R69.00 (promo) R99.00 (regular) |
| National Traffic Information System (Natis) Online | Nationwide | Included | R99.00 | R99.00 |
| South African Post Office (SapoMVL) | Nationwide | R72.00 | R75.00 | R147.00 |
| PayCity (shutting down) | Gauteng, City of Cape Town (metro only), Free State, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West | Included | Included | R166.75 |
| Shoprite Money Market | Nationwide | R110.25 | R74.75 | R185.00 |
| Renewonline | Nationwide | R100.00 | R115.00 | R215.00 |
| Disky | Nationwide | R169.00 | R70.00 | R239.00 |
Previously, the online licence disc renewal space was dominated by private players. However, state-owned entities like Natis and the Post Office launched competing services in the past two years.
The Natis online system launched in February 2022, enabling South African motorists to renew their vehicle registration and pay without leaving their homes.
South Africans can make online payments via a credit card or electronic funds transfer.
“You’ll pay using a credit card to renew a driver’s licence, and also [be provided with] a variety of options,” said Road Traffic Management Corporation CEO Makhosini Msibi.
The options include collecting the card from a testing centre or having it delivered to your home.
“We are making it easy for all South Africans to conduct this business in the comfort of their homes, without having to queue at the DLTCs,” added MSibi.
The South African Post Office (Sapo) launched its online licence disc renewal service just under three weeks before the Natis online launch.
Sapo said the full renewal process, including payment, is done online, leaving only the last step of accessing the licence disc.
It allows customers to collect their renewed licence discs from a Sapo counter or have them delivered.
Sapo says the estimated turnaround time is three working days, while it may be up to two days longer for outlying areas.
At launch, the service was available to motorists in all provinces except the Western Cape. However, it has since expanded to include the province.